Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04BOGOTA4238
2004-04-26 19:40:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bogota
Cable title:  

CONGRESSMAN DIAZ BALART'S BOGOTA VISIT

Tags:  PGOV PHUM PINR PREL SNAR CO CODEL 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BOGOTA 004238 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/23/2014
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PINR PREL SNAR CO CODEL
SUBJECT: CONGRESSMAN DIAZ BALART'S BOGOTA VISIT

Classified By: AMBASSADOR WILLIAM B. WOOD, REASONS
1.4 (B) and (D)

CONFIDENTIAL

SIPDIS

-------
Summary
-------

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BOGOTA 004238

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/23/2014
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PINR PREL SNAR CO CODEL
SUBJECT: CONGRESSMAN DIAZ BALART'S BOGOTA VISIT

Classified By: AMBASSADOR WILLIAM B. WOOD, REASONS
1.4 (B) and (D)

CONFIDENTIAL

SIPDIS

--------------
Summary
--------------


1. (U) Begin Summary. Congressman Lincoln Diaz-Balart
visited Colombia April 12-14. He received two awards from
the Colombian Congress; both were presented for the
Congressman,s efforts on behalf of Colombians in the U.S.
Diaz-Balart met with President Uribe and senior GOC
officials. End Summary.

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President Uribe
--------------

2. (U) Diaz-Balart noted that his constituents and those of
President Uribe in Florida were the same. Uribe said he
would be hold a &town hall8 meeting (similar to weekly
meetings held around Colombia) in Florida in the second half
of the year. Diaz-Balart recommended Uribe push for
inclusion of immigration legislation in FTA negotiations. He
also recommended the GOC implement a consular document
(matricula consular) similar to Mexico. Uribe thanked
Diaz-Balart and the USG for Plan Colombia support.

3.(C) Uribe expressed concern regarding Venezuela. Senate
President German Vargas lamented that the Venezuelan
opposition is weak and divided. Ambassador Wood stressed the
importance of multilateral efforts to press for the
referendum to take place. Uribe welcomed the visit of
President Toledo to Colombia (septel) and praised Toledo for
facilitating excellent bilateral cooperation. He expressed
surprise with Toledo,s poor domestic approval, noting that
Peru,s economic indicators were strong.

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Meeting with the MOD
--------------

4.(C) Minister of Defense (MOD) Jorge Alberto Uribe told
Diaz-Balart that over the last forty years, Colombians had
become accustomed to violence. Towns without police and the
inability to safely travel highways was common. However,
over the last year and a half, Colombia has turned a corner,
and USG assistance has been a vital part of this change;
police have been installed in every municipality and mayors
increasingly govern from their towns, rather than from a
distance. The previous Easter week, the highways were
packed. Min. Uribe thanked the USG for continued commitment
to Colombia, and expressed hope that USG assistance would
continue at the same level. Min. Uribe pointed out that
contrary to prevailing international perception, Colombia
funds approximately 87 percent of its military programs, and
desires to be self-sufficient.

5.(C) MOD Uribe said that a priority is to build the military
capabilities required to operate effectively in remote jungle
and border areas. Currently, Colombia is approximately
twenty years behind in these capabilities. He used the Air
Bridge Denial (ABD) program as an example of successful
capacity-building. Since August, when ABD was reinstituted,
the GOC has interdicted at least thirty planes.

6.(C) To illustrate the challenge Colombia faces combating
illegal armed groups, Min. Uribe pointed out that
southeastern Colombia is about one and one-half times the
size of Iraq. Although jungle terrain limits mobility,
public security forces continue to push into these regions,
reclaiming historically hostile territory. To really hold
the terrain security forces are being stationed in the field,
rather than in towns. Alluding to the recent spate of
friendly fire incidents by public security forces, Uribe
indicated that, given the high number of operations, it is
impossible to avoid tragic mistakes, despite best efforts.
Uribe asserted that he is addressing this problem.

7.(C) Min. Uribe said that Colombia,s biggest problem is
narcotrafficking, which is exceptionally difficult to control
along the Brazilian and Venezuelan borders. Uribe said that
the GOC,s eradication program is safeguarded with strict
controls. No spray operation takes place without explicit
authorization.

--------------
Activities At the Colombian Congress
--------------

8.(U) Diaz Balart addressed both chambers of Congress on
April 13. He spoke of helping immigrants in the U.S., and
assisting allied nations like Colombia preserve democracy and
strengthen their national security. He lauded Colombian
legislators for upholding democracy, welcomed their role in
the peace process, and support for Plan Colombia.
Diaz-Balart also had an informal lunch with twelve senators
in which Venezuela, US-Colombia FTA, and general public
security issues were disused. He reaffirmed that Colombia
has made great strides in the areas of security,
anti-terrorism, and counter-narcotics.
WOOD